Cream windows

Cream windows
Originally uploaded by Phil_Parker

Dilemma time. What colour should I paint the coach ?

A few weeks ago I visited Garden Railway Specialists in Princess Risborough and saw a really nice coach on display. Green and cream it had as much paneling an the one I'm working on and plenty of lining. My lining needs practise and the learning curve is better carried out on my own stock rather than someone elses !

The main difference was to be the colours. My preference has always been for so called "custard and cream" paintwork. It looks good on BR coaches and even better on Isle of Man Steam Railway ones - since the main locos on the garden line with be IOM then that pretty much settles it.

To start the job, the coach body received a coat of grey primer. This showed up0 a few areas for attention but nothing major, just a little more rubbing down. The inside of the windows were masked up with tape from the inside, not essential but it should make varnishing the partitions inside easier.

First colour through the airbrush was matt Humbrol cream over the window area. I'd hoped to use gloss colours throughout on this model to improve weatherproofing and also for the practise spraying gloss, but there wasn't anything suitable in the range. I'll be satin varnishing the whole thing anyway to protect the transfers.

24 hours after the cream, the windows were masked on the outside. Photos of the real IOM coaches were examined to work out where my break lines for colour were to be. It seemed that maroon above and below the cream would be ideal so using proper modeling masking tape and and old envelope the protection was applied.

Finally a coat of gloss maroon. The first paint cup full came out a bit thin but a blast from the hair drier hardened this off and the next one was mixed up a bit thicker. The covering propertied of this paint are a bit hopeless - the matt stuff seems so much thicker - or maybe I'm just scared of putting too much on and getting runs.

With a flourish the masking was removed as soon as the brush had been cleaned. Apparently this stops a ridge forming. I think that's just an excuse, after all the hassle of paint application you just want to see the results !